Bargates

Bargates Demolition

On 1st February 2012, the Council's contractors, Cawarden, moved on to the Bargates site and began the process of soft stripping the individual shop units.

Please go to our Bargates Demolition page to keep your eye on the progress of the demolition.

If you have any questions, comments or queries, please contact Catriona Hamilton at catriona.hamilton@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk

Bargates Development

Bargates is located at a key gateway into Burton Town Centre, and has been identified for regeneration under the Growth Point Programme. The site enjoys attractive views over the Trent Washlands and its Floodplain; which is a predominate area of amenity land. Bargates is considered to be a site of significant strategic importance.

East Staffordshire Borough Council is keen to see that a sustainable regeneration scheme is delivered on this unique and special site.

It is one of the largest redevelopment opportunities in Burton town centre and it presents a chance to accelerate the town’s revival, to create a place to live, work and visit.

A development scheme on this site will restore activity along the High Street and create a new active frontage to the riverside for people to enjoy.

The regeneration of Bargates will significantly contribute to the overall vision for Burton Town Centre, as it develops over the next twenty years.

Vision

The overall vision of the scheme is to regenerate Burton’s Bargates area, which;

delivers an outstanding high quality mixed use development scheme that will contribute to a vibrant and active town centre
responds to the unique setting of the River Trent and make use of the views across the river; encouraging access to and enjoyment of the riverside;
achieves environmental sustainability standards whilst respecting the existing historic features
ensures the development is attractive, safe and secure; as well as being accessible to all methods of travel
delivers jobs and new economic opportunities for the town; and create a new visitor focus for the riverside and town centre.

Options

In autumn 2009, a consultant consortium, led by David Lock Associates produced three development options, all of which proved to be financially viable or delivering using growth point funding. East Staffordshire Borough Council decided that the public should decide which of the three development options should be worked into to deliverable project through a consultation process.

Consultation

The consultation process took place between November 2009 and January 2010.

The three development options were presented to Corporate Officers and members of East Staffordshire.
Tesco, as the co-landowners, and Molson Coors, who have rights to the existing well that occupies part of the site, were formally consulted on the site, along with key stakeholders.
Presentations and discussions were also held with a number of high level advisory partners such as local MP’s.
Before going out to a public consultation, the three development options were also presented to the local media.
After which a series of exhibitions were held at public venues across East Staffordshire, including Burton Library, Burton College, and Coopers Square Shopping Centre.

To help demonstrate each option, each exhibition included a series of display boards and models showing the scale of the building heights of each of the three proposals.

Bargate Options
	Option 1 Option one explores the potential for a retail led redevelopment with A main retail store aligned by small shops units and offices A café/restaurant fronting the plaza A hotel and a residential block adjacent to the Burton Bridge Sufficient parking to accommodate the development scheme
	Option 2 Option two explores the potential for a mixed use Led development with Small ground floor shop units with office use above High quality business and office accommodation Residential apartment blocks with a mix of town houses Hotel use adjacent to Burton Bridge Sufficient parking to accommodate the development scheme
	Option Three This option explores the potential of a predominately residential led scheme with Small ground floor shop units with office use above A block of flexible mix of small apartments, town houses with parking Riverside residential blocks with large penthouses overlooking the Washlands A café at the corner of Burton Bridge Sufficient parking to accommodate the development scheme

The Preferred Option

The results of the public consultation were processed during February and early March 2010, some example responses include;

Option 3 – “...opportunity to create a much more attractive area fronting the river...” - quote take from public exhibition
Option 3 – “this option has the best mix of uses. It could be used to promote the town to visitors. The restaurant/cafe should be used throughout the day.” - quote take from public exhibition
Option 3 – “this is a better use of the available land that option 1 and allows each element to be developed with credibility. The waterfront element should strongly provide a focus for evening entertainment...” - quote take from public exhibition

It was clear from the results of the public consultation that Development option 3 was the preferred option

Given the response from the public, key stakeholders and partners, the principal development features of the Bargates are:

mixed-use development that may include retail, office, residential, cafes / restaurants and hotel
Additional leisure uses and potentially cultural uses will be encouraged if commercially deliverable.
Public realm improvements to open up access and walkways into the Washlands to encourage public use
Development that will encourage the use of the Washlands. This could be in the form of bars / cafes and restaurants
Land-mark building to be located on the junction of High Street / Meadowside Drive and fronting the river
Sufficient parking spaces are required to serve the requirements of the whole development scheme.

Next Steps

There is high expectation from the public that East Staffordshire Borough Council should ensure the delivery of a high quality regeneration scheme that is part of the Town Centre. So that it becomes a place that people wish to visit and be attracted to.

East Staffordshire Borough Council has produced a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) by the Council’s Planning Policy Team. The SPD will inform future developers of what is expected of the area in terms of

Bargates relationship to the immediate surroundings and the town centre as a whole
The development mix and use
Its riverside setting, including flooding issues
The quality of design and building materials
Development deliver issues such as energy efficiency performance, archaeology and ecology
Highway issues

The Supplementary Planning Document will be used to take the preferred option to the developers to secure a development delivery partner.